Rotary's Appeal.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20736, 22 December 1932, Page 10

Rotary's Appeal.

To-morrow's street appeal will be made with all the strength of the Rotary Club's organisation, .supported by ilie full confidence of the community; but more than the effort of organisers and collectors will be required, and more than general good-will and readiness to give, if the appeal is to be a complete success. That will be achieved only if the thousands of citizens who will fill the streets respond, not by giving something, merely, but by giving as largely as they can. In The Press yesterday an official explained the aims and hopes with which the Rotary Club has prepared for tomorrow, and in doing so he said: " We " do appeal for a little self-sacritice on " the part of those who are comfortably " situated." Few, perhaps, arc to-day free from anxiety, or have not learned new, hard lessons of self-denial; but the great majority are still comfortably housed, clothed, and fed, and it is to them, while they enjoy these advantages, that the appeal is addressed, on behalf of hundreds who are reduced to bitter need. Recent reports from social workers and others who speak with unquestionable authority, show that distress in Christehurch is deeper and wider than ever before, setting the Rotary Club a difficult task. Year by year it has brought Christmas happiness to more and more homes that would have been utterly cheerless without its help; this year it must again excel its best record. The relief of nearly twelve hundred families is a tremendous aim, yet only a minimum one. A hundred more hampers have been packed, in the hope that public support will be sufficiently generous to pay for them; and even if that hope is realised, lliere will still be "more "families in real need." That the pepple of Christehurch will do what the Rotary Club expects is hardly to be doubted. That they may fulfil its hopes by doing more is a possibility increased by every individual giver's wish and will and effort. But they need not stop with that. They may do as they have done before and form a benevolent, open conspiracy to surprise the Rotary Club and surpass themselves. They could in no other way so expressly obey the spirit of Christinas, or bid it so heartily welcome to all the homes of the City, including their own.